Toy clock



Aug, 20, 1946. R g 24mm TOY CLOCK Filed Feb. 21, 1945 IN V EN TOR. 1 5 62712 Force gr: ZZ-b Patented Aug. 20, 1946 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY CLOCK Frank Porcelli, Rego Park, N. Y.

Application February 21, 1945, Serial No. 579,101

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relate to toy clocks for very young children.

An object of the invention is to provide a toy clock incorporating a nursery rhyme action which may be actuated by young children without an undue amount of prior instruction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy clock of the character described which provides action, sound and visual appeal to young children and which is also educational in that the reading of time may be learned with its aid.

Afurther object is the provision of a toy clock of the character described in which a nursery rhyme action is coordinated with the passing of time registered on said clock by a ticking sound occurring at every hour.

Still another object is the provision of an improved type of construction of toy clocks in which the ticking means serves to hold the difierent parts thereof together.

These and other objects are attained by mechanism shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a face view of the clock herein claimed, incorporating the action of the nursery rhyme known as Hickory, Dickory Dock, etc.;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the toy clock shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 i a fragmentary front view of the ticking mechanism of said clock on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of a modified embodiment of the toy clock shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, said sectional view being solely of the mouse attaching means shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the toy clock I comprises a base II and an upright post or standard I 2 aiiixed to said base. Twelve nails or pins I3 arranged in a circle and equidistant from each other, are et into post I2. Fixedly mounted on said nails concentrically therewith is the clock face or dial I4. Rotatably mounted on said nails between the post on the one hand and the dial on the other, is a spinner or crank l5 whose length exceeds the diameter of the dial or clock face to a substantial extent. At one end of the spinner is a handle I6 and at the other end of the spinner, mounted by mean of spring I1, is a figure of a mouse I8. It will be noted that affixed to the mouse i a pointer or indicator I9 which points to the center of the clock face. A fiat spring finger 20, affixed to spinner I5, yieldingly engages nails I3.

To operate the device, the handle I6 is grasped and. the spinner caused to rotate around the hub which nails I3 comprise. As the spinner thus rotates, the spring finger 20 engages nails I3 consecutively and each time it engages each said nail, a clicking sound is effected. Also in consequence of said spinning action, the mouse I8 will be caused to move around the face of the clock and with it, of course, the pointer I9. Since there are twelve equally spaced nails I3 corresponding to'the twelve numerals on the face of the clock, each time the pointer I9 effects a 30 movement, a clicking sound is heard thu simulating the striking of the hours.

In carrying out the motif of the rhyme action, the words Hickory, Dickory Dock the mouse ran up the clock are printed on the face of the clock and the representation of a grandfathers clock and two small mice is also placed thereon. The clock is also provided with minute and hour hands 2| and 22, respectively, which are pivotally mounted on the face of the clock by means of pin 23.

The device herein described is susceptible of many variations. Spacer 25 and 26 are shown in Fig. 2 a spacing the clock face from the spinnor on the one hand, and the spinner from the vertical support on the other. These spacers may or may not be used in the construction of the device depending on whether it is desired to provide easier movement of the part relative to each other or to provide a less extensive device. The pring I! shown in Fig. 2 may or may not be used to support the mouse I8. If used, a vibratory motion is imparted to the mouse in addition to its arcuate movement effected by the turning of the crank. The spring may be dispensed with as shown in Fig. 4 where a spacer 21 and a nail or screw 28 take the place of the spring, the mouse being fixedly mounted on the crank or spinner by means of said elements.

Any nursery rhyme action may be incorporated into the device which would be appropriate thereto. For example, aside from the nursery rhyme referred to in the drawing, the nursery rhyme in which the cow jumped over the moon may be applied to the device.

I claim:

1. A toy clock including a clock face and a support therefor, said clock face being affixed to said support by means of a plurality of spaced pins set in a circle, a spinner rotatably mounted on said pins, 2. finger on said spinner yieldably engaging said pins, a handle at one end of said spinner and an indicator at the other end pointing to the clock face.

2. A toy clock including a clock face and a support therefor, said clock face being affixed to said support by means of twelve equally spaced pins which are set in a circle to form a hub, each pin corresponding to one of the twelve numerals normally found on a clock face, a spinner rotatably mounted on said hub, a finger on said spinner yieldably engaging said pins, a handle at one end of the pinner and an indicator at the other end thereof pointing to the numerals on the clock face.

3. A toy clock including a clock face and a support therefor, said clock face being affixed to said support by means of twelve equally spaced" pins which are set in a circle to form a hub, saidc pins corresponding to the twelve numerals on the clock face, a crank rotatably mounted on said hub, a leaf spring finger on said crank yieldably,

engaging said pins to effect a clicking sound, a handle at one end of the crank, a representation of a nursery rhyme character at the other end 20 4 thereof and an indicator on said character pointing to the numeral on the face of the clock.

4. A toy clock including a clock face and a support therefor, and movable minute and hour hands on said clock face, 'said clock face being afiixed to said support by means of twelve equally spaced pins which are set in a circle to form a hub, said pins corresponding to the twelve numerals on the clock face, a crank, of a length exceeding the diameter of theiclock lface rotatably mounted on said hub, a spring steel finger on said crank yieldably engaging said pins to provide a clicking sound each time the crank effects an' angular movement of 30, a handle at one end of said crank, a representation of a mouse at the other'end'of said crank afiixed thereto by means of ,alspringmember, and an indicator on said mouse pointing to the numerals on the face of the clock.

FRANK PORCELLI. 

